This week, we started socio-emotional groups in the classroom. The goal is for each classroom to receive two doses a week. Groups are informed by Conscious

Discipline utilizing Baby Doll Circle Time and the Feeling Buddy curriculum. Each group will be individualized to each classroom dynamic and individual child present in the group. Depending on each classroom and individual play style modifications will be made when planning for sessions as well as in sessions.

The goal for this group is to play out everyday experiences your child has with baby dolls, increasing their internal experience of their bodies (sensations) and emotions (feelings). This is all done with the support of songs, that help your child move through the ups and downs of emotions with rhythm. This week we have explored our babies tacitly, started getting kids familiarized with the routine of groups and even come up with solutions to what babies need. Baby doll belly buttons and their abilities to move arms and legs seemed to be a big hit this week and brought a lot of smiles.

A few examples from the group are exploring feelings of sad, mad and silly with our babies or washing diapers after babies and had dirty diapers. Babies were rocked, kissed and hugged. Gentle touches were practiced.

The goal of these activities moving forward is to reduce the stress of out-of-home care, increase positive affect and joy as children have control to play out emotions with their baby doll, relive the nurturing connections and memories your child has while at school, enhance empathy, and work on impulse control.

Please know my door is open to meet with parents individually too. Questions, comments and concerns are always welcome.

Kiara is a 2014 graduate from KU with a Masters in Clinical Social Work. She has done therapeutic work in residential and school settings providing services to children, teens, and families in the non-profit sector.